Researchers at Harvard Medical School believe that Tardigrades — tiny, hardy creatures — may secrete protein which can reverse the brain damage that so many Iraq and Syria veterans sustained while they were in-county. Doctors theorize that these creatures release proteins that slow tissue damage and even prevent cell death altogether. The team believes that the experiment could have a …

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the final appeal in a veteran’s lawsuit against KBR, putting an end to a court fight that had lasted the better part of a decade. But former Iraq War contractors still have legal options available when it comes to compensation for their injuries. Under direction from military commanders, KBR contractors constructed a number …

If American forces withdraw from the war-torn country as planned, many observers believe that private military contractors should remain behind to uphold American interests and protect the civilian population. On December 14, 2018, a combined U.S./Syrian Democratic Forces army cleared one of the last ISIS strongholds in the country. That victory prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to announce that their …

As recently as August 2018, outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis dismissed the idea of a privatized war in Afghanistan. Now that he is gone, could Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s vision become a reality? In the wake of his departure and President Donald Trump’s plan to pull out some 7,000 troops from the war-torn country, Blackwater USA took out a full …

Key lawmakers joined with a nationwide advocacy group to rally support for the Burn Pits Accountability Act, which already enjoys broad bipartisan support. IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) joined with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), urging lawmakers to fast-track the Burn Pits Accountability Act. This proposal, which has 147 co-sponsors, would provide medical evaluations …

Much of the research regarding brain injuries and Iraq veterans focuses on men, but women bear the same combat responsibilities as men. A recent study attempted to bridge the gender gap. Dr. Kristine Yaffe and her colleagues at the University of San Francisco reviewed over 100,000 female service records. They concluded that women with PTSD, TBI, and/or depression were twice …

Overseas military contractors enjoy a number of financial benefits. Contractors usually earn two or three times more pay than their counterparts who work for Uncle Sam in places like Haiti. Much or all of this money is tax free. Many other contractors enjoy financial benefits like free or subsidized housing and per diem allowances. However, things are not all wine …

Pancreatic cancer recently killed one of the highest-ranking members of the Vermont National Guard. Brigadier Gen. Michael T. Heston passed away just a few days after he voluntarily ceased pancreatic cancer treatments and turned to hospice care. Gen. Heston’s wife June said that “He stopped chemo and then started radiation treatment until two weeks ago, when they told him that …

Over the last several months, violence has increased significantly in the 17-year war, sparking fears that the conflict may have reached a bloody stalemate. On November 28, a truck bomb explosion and subsequent firefight in Kabul killed 10 people and injured 19 others. The incident forced the international airport to close. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack against …

In many ways, overseas contractors are a microcosm of the U.S. workforce. Of course, there is a significant difference between a place like Diego Garcia and a place like Delaware, but the work required in each can run parallel much of the time. American military and private contractors have served on foreign soil ever since before the United States was …

Veterans of the Global War on Terror who sustain traumatic brain injuries are twice as likely to end their own lives, according to a study released by the VA-funded Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC). Dr. Robert Shura and his team based their conclusions on interviews with almost 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. In addition to a …

Even as combat operations wind down in the war-torn country of Syria, contractor presence is ramping up. No one knows how many combat contractors are in Syria right now, but there are about 2,000 U.S. soldiers in-country. Once combat operations end, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said contractors would focus on rebuilding and pacification. Their duties will also include training local …